"Ninety-nine per cent of the time Alex is the first guy I'm looking at," Boudreau said, "but these guys were going pretty good."

But Boudreau hasn't been shy about reducing ice time for top players in this young season. The message: Play well or sit.

"It's the theme for the whole year. ... I hope the message has gotten clear from July 'til now. I'm hoping we don't change that message," Boudreau said. "We're going to try to stay strong with it. That's what it is, and I think that's the only way that we're going to be successful."

Boudreau says he didn't hear what Ovechkin said on the bench but understands why his star player wouldn't be happy.